AI could kill all humans in next decade, warn experts: but how seriously should we take them?

Experts and industry insiders are raising alarms about the potential for artificial superintelligence to cause catastrophic harm to humanity. The discussion has prompted UK lawmakers to consider new regulations and potential bans on advanced AI development.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the growing tension between rapid AI innovation and the existential risks perceived by safety researchers.
A safety expert at Anthropic believes there is a greater than 10% chance that AI could spark an event that wipes out humanity. A safety expert at Anthropic believes there is a greater than 10% chance that AI could spark an event that wipes out humanity. AI (artificial intelligence) AI could kill all humans in next decade, warn experts: but how seriously should we take them? Alarming warnings from industry insiders increase pressure for curbs on artificial superintelligence
Robert Booth UK technology editor Wed 9 Sep 2026 09.46 EDT Last modified on Wed 9 Sep 2026 21.31 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google D oes artificial superintelligence really pose a risk greater than nuclear weapons? Is there a significant chance of “a Chornobyl-sized catastrophe”. Might there even be a greater than 10% chance that AI could “kill all humans” in the next decade?
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